[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 125 (Friday, June 28, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38915-38922]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-15597]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Notice of Available Funding and Grant Application Deadlines
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability.
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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency of the United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces the availability of
$17,531,000 in grant funds and solicitation of applications for the
Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program for the Fiscal
Year (FY) 2013 competition.
DATES: You may submit completed applications for grants on paper or
electronically per the following deadlines:
Paper submissions: Paper submissions must be postmarked
and mailed, shipped, or sent overnight no later than August 12, 2013 to
be eligible for FY 2013 grant funding. Late or incomplete applications
will not be eligible for FY 2013 grant funding.
Electronic submissions: Electronic submissions must be
received by August 12, 2013 to be eligible for FY 2013 grant funding.
Late or incomplete applications will not be eligible for FY 2013 grant
funding.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the FY 2013 Application Guides and materials for
the DLT grant program may be obtained at the following sources:
(1) The DLT Web site: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UTP_DLTResources.html and
(2) You may also request application guides and materials from RUS
by contacting the DLT Program at 202-720-0665.
Completed applications may be submitted in the following ways:
(1) Paper: Paper applications are to be submitted to the Rural
Utilities Service, Telecommunications Program, 1400 Independence Ave.
SW., Room 2845, STOP 1550, Washington, DC 20250-1550. Applications
should be marked ``Attention: Acting Director, Advanced Services
Division.''
(2) Electronic: Electronic applications may be submitted through
Grants.gov. Information on how to submit applications electronically is
available on the Grants.gov Web site (http://www.grants.gov).
Applicants must successfully pre-register with Grants.gov to use the
electronic applications option. Application information may be
downloaded from Grants.gov without preregistration.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Norberto Esteves, Acting Director,
Advanced Services Division, Telecommunications Programs, Rural
Utilities Service. Email: [email protected]. Telephone:
202-720-0665, fax: 202-720-1051.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
Federal Agency: Rural Utilities Service (RUS).
Funding Opportunity Title: Distance Learning and Telemedicine
Grants.
Announcement Type: Notice of Solicitation of Applications.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.855.
Dates: You may submit completed applications for grants on paper or
electronically according to the following deadlines:
Paper submissions must be postmarked and mailed, shipped,
or sent overnight no later than August 12, 2013 to be eligible for FY
2013 grant funding. Late or incomplete applications are not eligible
for FY 2013 grant funding.
Electronic copies must be received by August 12, 2013 to be eligible
for FY 2013 grant funding. Late or incomplete applications are not
eligible for FY 2013 grant funding.
Items in Supplementary Information
I. Funding Opportunity: Brief introduction to the DLT program.
II. Minimum and Maximum Application Amounts: Projected Available
Funding.
III. Eligibility Information: Who is eligible, and what kinds of
projects are eligible, what criteria determine basic eligibility.
IV. SUTA: The applicant needs to notify RUS that it is seeking
consideration under the 7 CFR 1700, Substantially Underserved Trust
Areas (the SUTA regulation) and identifies the discretionary
authorities of the Secretary of Agriculture described in the SUTA
regulation that it seeks to have applied to its application.
V. Application and Submission Information: Where to get application
materials, what constitutes a completed application, how and where
to submit applications, deadlines, and items that are eligible.
VI. Application Review Information: Considerations and preferences,
scoring criteria, review standards, and selection information.
VII. Award Administration Information: Award notice information,
award recipient and reporting requirements.
[[Page 38916]]
VIII. Agency Contacts: Web, phone, fax, email, contact name.
I. Funding Opportunity
DLT grants are specifically designed to provide access to
education, training and health care resources for people in rural
America.
The DLT Program provides financial assistance to encourage and
improve telemedicine services and distance learning services in rural
areas through the use of telecommunications, computer networks, and
related advanced technologies to be used by students, teachers, medical
professionals, and rural residents.
The grants, which are awarded through a competitive process, may be
used to fund telecommunications-enabled information, audio and video
equipment and related advanced technologies which extend educational
and medical applications into rural locations. Grants are made for
projects where the benefit is primarily delivered to end users that are
not at the same location as the source of the education or health care
service.
As in years past, the FY 2013 DLT Grant Application Guide has been
updated based on program experience. All applicants should carefully
review and prepare their applications according to instructions in the
FY 2013 Application Guide and sample materials when compiling a DLT
grant application.
The Agency notes that the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of
2008 (Pub. L. 110-234) expressly added the category of libraries under
Sec. 2333(c)(1) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act
of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 950aaa-2(a)(1)) to clearly establish that libraries
are eligible to be recipients of DLT Loans and Grants. This confirms
the longstanding Agency policy of considering libraries to be eligible
entities under the DLT Program. The regulation for the DLT Grant
Program can be found at 7 CFR part 1703, subpart E.
II. Maximum and Minimum Amount of Applications
Under 7 CFR 1703.124, the Administrator has determined the maximum
amount of a grant to be made available to an applicant in FY 2013 is
$500,000, and the minimum amount of a grant is $50,000, subject to
availability of funding.
The Agency will make awards and execute documents appropriate to
the project prior to any advance of funds to successful applicants.
DLT grants cannot be renewed. Award documents specify the term of
each award. The Agency will make awards and execute documents
appropriate to the project prior to any advance of funds to successful
applicants. Applications from existing DLT awardees are acceptable
(grant applications must be submitted during the application window)
and will be evaluated as new applications.
III. Eligibility Information
A. Who is eligible for a grant? (See 7 CFR 1703.103.)
1. Only entities legally organized as one of the following are
eligible for DLT financial assistance:
a. An incorporated organization or partnership,
b. An Indian tribe or tribal organization, as defined in 25 U.S.C.
450b,
c. A state or local unit of government,
d. A consortium, as defined in 7 CFR 1703.102, or
e. Other legal entity, including a private corporation organized on
a for-profit or not-for-profit basis.
2. Individuals are not eligible for DLT program financial
assistance directly.
3. Electric and telecommunications borrowers under the Rural
Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950aaa et seq.) are not eligible
for grants.
4. Corporations that have been convicted of a felony (or had an
officer or agency acting on behalf of the corporation convicted of a
felony) within the past 24 months are not eligible. Any corporation
that has any unpaid federal tax liability that has been assessed, for
which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or
have lapsed, and that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to
an agreement with the authority responsible for collecting the tax
liability, is not eligible for financial assistance.
B. What are the basic eligibility requirements for a project?
1. Required matching contributions for grants: See 7 CFR
1703.125(g) and the FY 2013 Application Guide for information on
required matching contributions.
a. Grant applicants must demonstrate matching contributions, in
cash or in kind (new, non-depreciated items), of at least fifteen (15)
percent of the total amount of financial assistance requested. Matching
contributions must be used for eligible purposes of DLT grant
assistance (see 7 CFR 1703.121, paragraphs V.H.1.b of this Notice and
the FY 2013 Application Guide).
b. Greater amounts of eligible matching contributions may increase
an applicant's score (see 7 CFR 1703.126(b)(4) and the FY 2013
Application Guide).
c. Applications that do not provide evidence of the required
fifteen percent match will be declared ineligible and returned unless a
SUTA waiver of matching funds is granted . See paragraphs V.H.1.c and
VI.B.2.c of this Notice, and the FY 2013 Application Guide for specific
information on documentation of matching contributions.
d. Applications that do not document all matching contributions in
form and substance satisfactory to the Agency as described in the
Application Guide are subject to disallowance which may make an
application ineligible for not meeting the minimum required match.
2. The DLT grant program is designed to bring the benefits of
distance learning and telemedicine to residents of rural America (see 7
CFR 1703.103(a)(2)). Therefore, to be eligible, applicants must:
a. Operate a rural community facility; or
b. Deliver distance learning or telemedicine services to entities
that operate a rural community facility or to residents of rural areas,
at rates calculated to ensure that the benefit of the financial
assistance is passed through to such entities or to residents of rural
areas.
3. Rurality.
a. All projects proposed for DLT grant assistance must meet a
minimum rurality threshold, to ensure that benefits from the projects
flow to rural residents. The minimum eligibility score is 20 points.
b. Each application must apply the following criteria to each of
its end-user sites, and hubs that are also proposed as end-user sites,
to determine a rurality score. The rurality score is the average of all
end-user sites' rurality scores.
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DLT
Criterion Character Population points
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Exceptionally Rural Area....................... any area of the USA not included within <= 5000 45
the boundaries of any incorporated or
unincorporated city, village, or
borough having a population in excess
of 5,000 inhabitants.
[[Page 38917]]
Rural Area..................................... any area of the USA included within the > 5000 and <= 30
boundaries of any incorporated or 10,000
unincorporated city, village, or
borough having a population over 5,000
and not in excess of 10,000
inhabitants.
Mid-Rural Area................................. any area of the USA included within the >10,000 and <= 15
boundaries of any incorporated or 20,000
unincorporated city, village, or
borough having a population over
10,000 and not in excess of 20,000
inhabitants.
Urban Area..................................... any area of the USA included within the > 20,000 0
boundaries of any incorporated or
unincorporated city, village, or
borough having a population in excess
of 20,000 inhabitants.
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c. The rurality score is one of the competitive scoring criteria
applied to grant applications.
4. Projects located in areas covered by the Coastal Barrier
Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) are not eligible for financial
assistance from the DLT Program. Please see 7 CFR 1703.123(a)(11), 7
CFR 1703.132(a)(5), and 7 CFR 1703.142(b)(3).
C. Where to find full discussion of a Complete Application. See
Section V of this Notice and the FY 2013 Application Guide for a
discussion of the items that comprise a complete application. For
requirements of completed applications you may also refer to 7 CFR
1703.125 for grant applications. The FY 2013 Application Guide provides
specific, detailed instructions for each item that constitutes a
complete application. The Agency strongly emphasizes the importance of
including every required item (as explained in the FY 2013 Application
Guide) and strongly encourages applicants to follow the instructions
carefully, using the examples and illustrations in the FY 2013
Application Guide. Applications which do not include all items that
determine project eligibility and applicant eligibility by the
application deadline will be returned as ineligible. Scoring and
eligibility information not provided by the application deadline will
not be solicited or considered by the Agency. Applications that do not
include all items necessary for scoring will be scored as is. Please
see the FY 2013 Application Guide for a full discussion of each
required item and for samples and illustrations.
IV. SUTA
The 2008 Farm Bill (Pub. L. 110-246, codified at 7 U.S.C. 906f),
authorizes the Substantially Underserved Trust Areas (SUTA) provisions,
as implemented by RUS as regulation 7 CFR 1700, Substantially
Underserved Trust Areas (the SUTA regulation). Under the SUTA
regulation, the applicant may request the Agency apply one or more SUTA
provisions to its application. To receive consideration the applicant
needs to submit to RUS a completed application in compliance with 7 CFR
1703 (the DLT regulation), and include a section requesting
consideration under the SUTA regulation. This section notifies RUS that
the applicant is seeking consideration under the SUTA regulation and
identifies the discretionary authorities the Secretary of Agriculture
described in the SUTA regulation--that it seeks to have applied to its
application. In this section the applicant must include the information
demonstrating eligibility for consideration under the SUTA regulation,
and an explanation and documentation of the high need for the DLT
benefits. RUS will review the application to determine whether the
applicant is eligible to receive consideration under SUTA. RUS will
notify the applicant in writing whether (1) the application is eligible
to receive consideration under this subpart and if one or more SUTA
requests are granted; or (2) the application is not eligible to receive
further consideration under the SUTA regulation. If the SUTA request is
not granted, the applicant may withdraw its application or, if the
application is still eligible without SUTA consideration, request that
RUS treat its application as an ordinary application for processing.
For more detailed guidance on how to apply for a grant under SUTA,
please refer to the 2013 FY 2013 Application Guide available at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UTP_DLTResources.html.
V. Application and Submission Information
A. Where To Get Application Information
FY 2013 Application Guides, copies of necessary forms and samples,
and the DLT Program regulation are available from these sources:
1. The Internet: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UTP_DLTResources.html
2. The DLT Program for paper copies of these materials: 202-720-
0665.
B. Emphasis in FY 2013
1. Applicants are reminded that the DLT Grant Program is intended
to meet the educational and health care needs of rural America. Hub
sites may be located in rural or non-rural areas, but end-user sites
need to be located in rural areas. Non-fixed sites serving a
geographical service area may include non-rural areas. However, for
determining rurality and NSLP scores every incorporated and non-
incorporated city, village or borough must be listed and scored
accordingly, including those jurisdictions which are more populated
than those defined as rural. The necessary inclusion of non-rural
jurisdictions in these types of projects could cause a lower rurality
score by virtue of the project's geographic and demographic layout.
Because of this, the applicant should make an effort to reveal how
their project will focus the delivery of service to the rural residents
of their service territory. From a competitive standpoint, applicants
could offset the loss of rurality points by attempting to score higher
in the subjective areas of needs and benefits, innovativeness, and cost
effectiveness with well crafted narratives. The FY 2013 Application
Guide contains language clarifying this provision of the regulation.
2. If a grant application includes a site that is included in any
other DLT grant application for FY 2013, or a site that has been
included in any DLT grant funded in FY 2012 or FY 2011, the application
should contain a detailed explanation of the related applications or
grants. The Agency must make a nonduplication finding for each grant
approved, and apparent but unexplained duplication of funding for a
site can prevent such a finding.
C. What constitutes a completed application?
1. For DLT Grants
a. Detailed information on each item in the table in paragraph
V.C.1.h of this Notice can be found in the sections of the DLT Program
regulation listed in the
[[Page 38918]]
table, and the DLT grant Application Guide. Applicants are strongly
encouraged to read and apply both the regulation and the Applications
Guide, which elaborates and explains the regulation.
(1) When the table refers to a narrative, it means a written
statement, description or other written material prepared by the
applicant, for which no form exists. The Agency recognizes that each
project is unique and requests narratives to allow applicants to
explain their request for financial assistance.
(2) When documentation is requested, it means letters,
certifications, legal documents, or other third-party documentation
that provide evidence that the applicant meets the listed requirement.
For example, to confirm rurality scores, applicants can use printouts
from the Web site http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml. Leveraging documentation generally will be letters of
commitment from the funding sources. In-kind matches must be items
purchased after the application deadline date that are essential to the
project and documentation from the donor must demonstrate the
relationship of each item to the project's function. Evidence of legal
existence is sometimes proven by submitting articles of incorporation.
The examples here are not intended to limit the types of documentation
that must be submitted to fulfill a requirement. DLT Program
regulations and the Application Guide provide specific guidance on each
of the items in the table.
b. The DLT Application Guide and ancillary materials provide all
necessary sample forms and worksheets.
c. While the table in paragraph V.C.1.h of this Notice includes all
items of a completed application, the Agency may ask for additional or
clarifying information for applications which, as submitted by the
deadline, appear to clearly demonstrate that they meet eligibility
requirements. The Agency will not solicit or accept eligibility or
scoring information submitted after the application deadline.
d. Given the high volume of program interest, to expedite
processing applicants are asked to submit the required application
items in the order depicted in the FY 2013 Application Guide. The FY
2013 Application Guide specifies the format and order of all required
items. Applications that are not assembled and tabbed in the order
specified prevent timely determination of eligibility. For applications
with inconsistency among submitted copies, the Agency will base its
evaluation on the original signed application received by the Agency.
e. DUNS Number. The applicant for a grant must supply a Dun and
Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number as part of an
application. The Standard Form 424 (SF-424) contains a field for the
DUNS number. The applicant can obtain the DUNS number free of charge by
calling Dun and Bradstreet. Please see http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform
for more information on how to obtain a DUNS number or how to verify
your organization's number.
f. Prior to submitting an application, the applicant must register
in the System for Award Management (SAM) (formerly Central Contractor
Registry, (CCR)).
(1) Applicants may register for the SAM at https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/.
(2) The SAM registration must remain active with current
information at all times while RUS is considering an application or
while a Federal Grant Award or loan is active. To maintain the
registration in the SAM database the applicant must review and update
the information in the SAM database annually from date of initial
registration or from the date of the last update. The applicant must
ensure that the information in the database is current, accurate, and
complete.
g. Compliance with other federal statutes. The applicant must
provide evidence of compliance with other federal statutes and
regulations, including, but not limited to the following:
(1) 7 CFR part 15, subpart A--Nondiscrimination in Federally
Assisted Programs of the Department of Agriculture--Effectuation of
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
(2) 7 CFR part 3015--Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations.
(3) 7 CFR part 3017--Government-wide Debarment and Suspension (Non-
procurement).
(4) 7 CFR part 3018--New Restrictions on Lobbying.
(5) 7 CFR part 3021--Government-wide Requirements for Drug-Free
Workplace.
h. Table of Required Elements of a Completed Grant Application.
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Required items, unless otherwise noted
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Application item Grants (7 CFR
1703.125 and 7 Comment
CFR 1703.126)
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SF-424 (Application for Yes.............. Completely filled
Federal Assistance form). out.
Site Worksheet................ Yes.............. Agency worksheet.
Survey on Ensuring Equal Optional......... OMB Form.
Opportunity for Applicants.
Evidence of Legal Authority to Yes.............. Documentation.
Contract with the Government.
Evidence of Legal Existence... Yes.............. Documentation.
Executive Summary............. Yes.............. Narrative.
Telecommunications System Plan Yes.............. Narrative &
and Scope of Work. documentation such
as maps and
diagrams.
Budget........................ Yes.............. Agency Worksheets
with documentation.
Financial Information/ Yes.............. Narrative.
Sustainability.
Statement of Experience....... Yes.............. Narrative 3-page,
single-spaced limit.
Rurality Worksheet............ Yes.............. Agency worksheet with
documentation.
National School Lunch Program Yes.............. Agency worksheet with
(NSLP) Worksheet. documentation.
Leveraging Evidence and Yes.............. Agency worksheet and
Funding Commitments from all source
Sources. documentation.
Empowerment Zone designation.. Yes.............. Documentation.
Request for Additional NSLP... Optional......... Agency Worksheet and
narrative.
Request for SUTA information.. Optional......... Application Guide.
Need for and Benefits derived Yes.............. Narrative &
from Project. documentation.
Innovativeness of the Project. Yes.............. Narrative &
documentation.
[[Page 38919]]
Cost Effectiveness of Project. Yes.............. Narrative &
documentation.
Consultation with the USDA Yes.............. Documentation.
State Director, Rural
Development, and evidence
that application conforms to
State Strategic Plan, if any.
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Certifications
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Equal Opportunity and Yes.............. Form provided in FY
Nondiscrimination. 2013 Application
Tool Kit.
Architectural Barriers........ Yes.............. Form provided in FY
2013 Application
Tool Kit.
Flood Hazard Area Precautions. Yes.............. Form provided in FY
2013 Application
Tool Kit.
Uniform Relocation Assistance Yes.............. Form provided in FY
and Real Property Acquisition 2013 Application
Policies Act of 1970. Tool Kit.
Drug-Free Workplace........... Yes.............. Form provided in FY
2013 Application
Tool Kit.
Debarment, Suspension, and Yes.............. Form provided in FY
Other Responsibility Matters-- 2013 Application
Primary Covered Transactions. Tool Kit.
Lobbying for Contracts, Yes.............. Form provided in FY
Grants, Loans, and 2013 Application
Cooperative Agreements. Tool Kit.
Non-Duplication of Services... Yes.............. Form provided in FY
2013 Application
Tool Kit.
Environmental Impact/Historic Yes.............. Form provided in FY
Preservation Certification. 2013 Application
Tool Kit.
Assurance Regarding Felony Yes.............. Form provided in the
Conviction or Tax Delinquent FY 2013 Application
Status for Corporate Tool. Kit.
Applicants.
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D. How many copies of an application are required?
1. Applications Submitted on Paper
a. Submit the original application and two (2) copies to RUS; and
b. Submit one (1) additional copy to the state government single
point of contact (if one has been designated) at the same time as you
submit the application to the Agency for the State where the project is
located. If the project is located in more than one State, submit a
copy to each state government single point of contact. See http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc for an updated listing of State
government single points of contact.
2. Electronically submitted applications. Grant applications may be
submitted electronically. Please carefully read the FY 2013 Application
Guide for guidance on submitting an electronic application. In
particular, we ask that you identify and number each page in the same
way you would a paper application so that we can assemble them as you
intended.
a. The additional paper copy is not necessary if you submit the
application electronically through Grants.gov.
b. Submit one (1) copy to the state government single point of
contact (if one has been designated) at the same time as you submit the
application to the Agency. If the project is located in more than one
State, submit a copy to each state government single point of contact.
See http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc for an updated listing
of State government single points of contact.
E. How and where to submit an application. Grant applications may be
submitted on paper or electronically
1. Submitting Applications on Paper
a. Address paper applications to the Telecommunications Program,
RUS, United States Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave.
SW., Room 2845, STOP 1550, Washington, DC 20250-1550. Applications
should be marked ``Attention: Acting Director, Advanced Services
Division.''
b. Paper grant applications must show proof of mailing or shipping
by the deadline consisting of one of the following:
(i) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service (USPS) postmark;
(ii) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the
USPS; or
(iii) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial
carrier.
c. Due to screening procedures at the Department of Agriculture,
packages arriving via regular mail through the USPS are irradiated,
which can damage the contents and delay delivery to the DLT Program.
RUS encourages applicants to consider the impact of this procedure in
selecting their application delivery method.
2. Electronically Submitted Applications
a. Applications will not be accepted via fax or electronic mail.
b. Electronic applications for grants will be accepted if submitted
through the Federal government's Grants.gov initiative at http://www.grants.gov/.
c. How to use Grants.gov.
(i) Grants.gov contains full instructions on all required
passwords, credentialing and software.
(ii) System for Award Management. Submitting an application through
Grants.gov requires that your organization list in the System for Award
Management (SAM) (formerly Central Contractor Registry, CCR). The
Agency strongly recommends that you obtain your organization's DUNS
number and SAM listing well in advance of the deadline specified in
this notice.
(iii) Credentialing and authorization of applicants. Grants.gov
will also require some credentialing and online authentication
procedures. These procedures may take several business days to
complete, further emphasizing the need for early action by applicants
to complete the sign-up, credentialing and authorization procedures at
Grants.gov before you submit an application at that Web site.
(iv) Some or all of the SAM and Grants.gov registration,
credentialing and authorizations require updates. If you have
previously registered at Grants.gov to submit applications
electronically, please ensure that your registration, credentialing and
authorizations are up to date well in advance of the grant application
deadline.
d. RUS encourages applicants who wish to apply through Grants.gov
to submit their applications in advance of the deadlines.
[[Page 38920]]
e. If a system problem occurs or you have technical difficulties
with an electronic application, please use the customer support
resources available at the Grants.gov Web site.
F. Deadlines
1. Paper grant applications must be postmarked and mailed, shipped,
or sent overnight no later than August 12, 2013 to be eligible for FY
2013 grant funding. Late applications, applications which do not
include proof of mailing or shipping as described in paragraph
V.E.1.b., and incomplete applications are not eligible for FY 2013
grant funding.
2. Electronic grant applications must be received by August 12,
2013 to be eligible for FY 2013 funding. Late or incomplete
applications will not be eligible for FY 2013 grant funding.
G. Intergovernmental Review
The DLT grant program is subject to Executive Order 12372,
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.'' As stated in
paragraph V.D.1 of this Notice, a copy of a DLT grant application must
be submitted to the state single point of contact if one has been
designated. Please see http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc to
determine whether your state has a single point of contact.
H. Funding Restrictions
1. Eligible Purposes
a. For grants, rural end-user sites may receive financial
assistance; hub sites (rural or non-rural) may also receive financial
assistance if they are necessary to provide DLT services to end-user
sites. Please see the Application Guide and 7 CFR 1703.101(h).
b. To fulfill the policy goals laid out for the DLT Program in 7
CFR 1703.101, the following table lists purposes for financial
assistance and whether each purpose is generally considered to be
eligible for the form of financial assistance. Please consult the FY
2013 Application Guide and the regulations (7 CFR 1703.102) for
definitions, in combination with the portions of the regulation cited
in the table) for detailed requirements for the items in the table. RUS
strongly recommends that applicants exclude ineligible items from the
grant and match portions of grant application budgets. However, some
items ineligible for funding or matching contributions may be vital to
the project. RUS encourages applicants to document those costs in the
application's budget. Please see the FY 2013 Application Guide for a
recommended budget format, and detailed budget compilation
instructions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grants
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lease or purchase of new eligible DLT Yes, equipment only.
equipment and facilities.
Acquire new instructional programming that Yes.
is capital asset.
Technical assistance, develop Yes, up to 10% of the grant.
instructional material for the operation
of the equipment, and engineering or
environmental studies in the
implementation of the project.
Telemedicine or distance learning Yes.
equipment or facilities necessary to the
project.
Vehicles using distance learning or No.
telemedicine technology to deliver
services.
Teacher-student links located at the same No.
facility.
Links between medical professionals No.
located at the same facility.
Site development or building alteration, No.
except for equipment installation and
associated inside wiring.
Land or building purchase................. No.
Building Construction..................... No.
Acquiring telecommunications transmission No.
facilities.
Internet services, telecommunications No.
services or other forms of connectivity.
Salaries, wages, benefits for medical or No.
educational personnel.
Salaries or administrative expenses of No.
applicant or project.
Recurring project costs or operating No, (equipment & facility
expenses. leases are not recurring
project costs).
Equipment to be owned by the LEC or other No.
telecommunications service provider, if
the provider is the applicant.
Duplicative distance learning or No.
telemedicine services.
Any project that for its success depends No.
on additional DLT financial assistance or
other financial assistance that is not
assured.
Application Preparation Costs............. No.
Other project costs not in regulation..... No.
Cost (amount) of facilities providing No.
distance learning broadcasting.
Reimburse applicants or others for costs No.
incurred prior to RUS receipt of
completed application.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
c. Discounts. The DLT Program regulation has long stated that
manufacturers' and service providers' discounts are not eligible
matches. The Agency will not consider as eligible any proposed match
from a vendor, manufacturer, or service provider whose products or
services will be used in the DLT project as described in the
application. In recent years, the Agency has noted a trend of vendors,
manufacturers, and other service providers offering their own products
and services as in-kind matches for a project when their products or
services will also be purchased with either grant or cash match funds
for that project. Such activity is a discount and is therefore not an
eligible match. Similarly, if a vendor, manufacturer, or other service
provider proposes a cash match (or any in-kind match) when their
products or services will be purchased with grant or match funds, such
activity is a discount and is not an eligible match. The Agency
actively discourages such matching proposals and will adjust budgets as
necessary to remove any such matches, which may reduce an application's
score or result in the application's ineligibility due to insufficient
match.
2. Eligible Equipment & Facilities. Please see the FY 2013
Application Guide for more information regarding eligible and
ineligible items. In addition, see 7 CFR 1703.102 for definitions of
eligible equipment, eligible facilities, and
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telecommunications transmission facilities as used in the table above.
3. Apportioning budget items. Many DLT applications propose to use
items for a blend of specific DLT eligible project purposes and other
purposes. RUS will consider funding such items in the overall context
of the project, but such items will affect the competitive value of the
project compared with other projects. The proposed project could
receive a lower score in the subjective areas of the grant to the
extent that its budget requests items that have limited or questionable
value to the purposes of distance learning or telemedicine. See the FY
2013 Application Guide for detailed information on how to apportion use
and apportioning illustrations.
VI. Application Review Information
A. Special Considerations or Preferences
1. American Samoa, Guam, Virgin Islands, and Northern Mariana
Islands applications are exempt from the matching requirement up to a
match amount of $200,000 (see 48 U.S.C. 1469a; 91 Stat. 1164).
2. 7 CFR 1703.112 directs that RUS Telecommunications Borrowers
receive expedited consideration of a loan application or advance under
the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901-950aa, et. seq.) if
the loan funds in question are to be used in conjunction with a DLT
grant (See 7 CFR 1737 for loans and 7 CFR 1744 for advances).
B. Criteria
1. Grant application scoring criteria (total possible points: 215).
See 7 CFR 1703.125 for the items that will be reviewed during scoring,
and 7 CFR 1703.126 for scoring criteria.
2. Grant applications are scored competitively subject to the
criteria listed below.
a. Rurality category--Rurality of the proposed service area (up to
45 points).
b. NSLP category--percentage of students eligible for the NSLP in
the proposed service area (up to 35 points).
c. Leveraging category--matching funds above the required matching
level (up to 35 points).
d. Need for services proposed in the application and the benefits
that will be derived if the application receives a grant (up to 55
points).
(i) Additional NSLP category--up to 10 of the possible 55 possible
points are to recognize economic need not reflected in the project's
National School Lunch Program (NSLP) score, and can be earned only by
applications whose overall NSLP eligibility is less than 50%. To be
eligible to receive points under this, the application must include an
affirmative request for consideration of the possible 10 points, and
compelling documentation of reasons why the NSLP eligibility percentage
does not represent the economic need of the proposed project
beneficiaries.
(ii) Needs and Benefits category--up to 45 of the 55 possible
points under this criterion are available to all applicants. Points are
awarded based on the required narrative crafted by the applicant. RUS
encourages applicants to carefully read the cited portions of the
Program regulation and the FY 2013 Application Guide for full
discussions of this criterion.
e. Innovativeness category--level of innovation demonstrated by the
project (up to 15 points).
f. Cost Effectiveness category--system cost-effectiveness (up to 35
points).
C. Grant Review Standards
1. In addition to the scoring criteria that rank applications
against each other, the Agency evaluates grant applications for
possible awards on the following items, according to 7 CFR 1703.127:
a. Financial feasibility.
b. Technical considerations. If the application contains flaws that
would prevent the successful implementation, operation or
sustainability of a project, the Agency will not award a grant.
c. Other aspects of proposals that contain inadequacies that would
undermine the ability of the project to comply with the policies of the
DLT Program.
2. Applications which do not include all items that determine
project eligibility and applicant eligibility by the application
deadline will be returned as ineligible. Applications that do not
include all items necessary for scoring will be scored as is. Please
see the FY 2013 Application Guide for a full discussion of each
required item and for samples and illustrations. The Agency will not
solicit or consider eligibility or scoring information submitted after
the application deadline.
3. The FY 2013 grant Application Guide specifies the format and
order of all required items.
4. Most DLT grant projects contain numerous project sites. The
Agency requires that site information be consistent throughout an
application. Sites must be referred to by the same designation
throughout all parts of an application. The Agency has provided a site
worksheet that requests the necessary information, and can be used as a
guide by applicants. RUS strongly recommends that applicants complete
the site worksheet, listing all requested information for each site.
Applications without consistent site information will be returned as
ineligible.
5. As stated above, DLT grant applications which have non-fixed
end-user sites, such as ambulance and home health care services, are
scored according to the applicant's entire service area. See the FY
2013 Application Guide for specific guidance on preparing an
application with non-fixed end users.
D. Selection Process. Grants applications are ranked by final
score. RUS selects applications based on those rankings, subject to the
availability of funds. RUS may allocate grant awards between medical
and educational purposes, but is not required to do so. In addition,
the Agency has the authority to limit the number of applications
selected in any one state, or for one project, during a fiscal year.
See 7 CFR 1703.127.
VII. Award Administration Information
A. Award Notices
RUS generally notifies by mail applicants whose projects are
selected for awards. The Agency follows the award letter with an
agreement that contains all the terms and conditions for the grant. A
copy of the standard agreement is posted on the RUS Web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UTP_DLTResources.html . An applicant must execute
and return the agreement, accompanied by any additional items required
by the agreement, within the number of days shown in the selection
notice letter.
B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
The items listed in Section V of this notice, the DLT Program
regulation, FY 2013 Application Guide and accompanying materials
implement the appropriate administrative and national policy
requirements.
C. Reporting
1. Performance reporting. All recipients of DLT financial
assistance must provide annual performance activity reports to RUS
until the project is complete and the funds are expended. A final
performance report is also required; the final report may serve as the
last annual report. The final report must include an evaluation of the
success of the project in meeting DLT Program objectives. See 7 CFR
1703.107.
2. Financial reporting. All recipients of DLT financial assistance
must provide an annual audit, beginning with the first year in which a
portion of the
[[Page 38922]]
financial assistance is expended. Audits are governed by United States
Department of Agriculture audit regulations. Please see 7 CFR 1703.108.
3. Recipient and Subrecipient Reporting. The applicant must have
the necessary processes and systems in place to comply with the
reporting requirements for first-tier sub-awards and executive
compensation under the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency
Act of 2006 in the event the applicant receives funding unless such
applicant is exempt from such reporting requirements pursuant to 2 CFR
part 170, Sec. 170.110(b). The reporting requirements under the
Transparency Act pursuant to 2 CFR part 170 are as follows:
a. First Tier Sub-Awards of $25,000 or more in non-Recovery Act
funds (unless they are exempt under 2 CFR part 170) must be reported by
the Recipient to http://www.fsrs.gov no later than the end of the month
following the month the obligation was made. Please note that currently
underway is a consolidation of eight federal procurement systems,
including the Sub-award Reporting System (FSRS), into one system, the
System for Award Management (SAM). As result the FSRS will soon be
consolidated into and accessed through https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/.
b. The Total Compensation of the Recipient's Executives (5 most
highly compensated executives) must be reported by the Recipient (if
the Recipient meets the criteria under 2 CFR part 170) to https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/ by the end of the month following the
month in which the award was made.
c. The Total Compensation of the Subrecipient's Executives (5 most
highly compensated executives) must be reported by the Subrecipient (if
the Subrecipient meets the criteria under 2 CFR part 170) to the
Recipient by the end of the month following the month in which the
subaward was made.
4. Record Keeping and Accounting.
The grant contract will contain provisions relating to record
keeping and accounting requirements.
VIII. Agency Contacts
A. Web site: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UTP_DLT.html. The DLT Web
site maintains up-to-date resources and contact information for DLT
programs.
B. Telephone: 202-720-0665.
C. Fax: 202-720-1051.
D. Email: [email protected].
E. Main point of contact: Norberto Esteves, Acting Director,
Advanced Services Division, Telecommunications Program, Rural Utilities
Service.
Dated: June 24, 2013.
John Charles Padalino,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-15597 Filed 6-27-13; 8:45 am]
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